Workshop Tip: Chisel and honing guide make a great glue scraper

Make a chisel plane using a sharp chisel or plane iron in a honing guide.

If you don’t own a chisel plane for scraping glue squeeze-out, you can create one by placing a sharp chisel or plane iron in your honing guide. Set it up with the cutting bevel flat on the bench, and then extend the tool 1/32 in. or so from this position. This will keep the cutting edge just above the work, so the chisel scrapes glue without damaging the surface. To get started, try attacking the glueline from an angle, rather than riding on top of it.

The honing guide and chisel setup will also work as a chisel plane in tight corners. For that use, set the bevel flat on the wood.

—BRIAN CHIN, Portland, Maine

Illustrations by Dan ThorntonFrom Fine Woodworking issue #280

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